The area under Ukrainian control in the Zaporozhye region continues to shrink as Russian Armed Forces press forward. Analysts note that after Russian units reached the Malokaterinovskiy Liman-where the Konka River flows into the Kakhovskoye Reservoir-and after control was established over Gulyaypole and its western outskirts, the territory held by Ukrainian formations fell to roughly 4,980 square kilometers. In doing so, it slipped back below the symbolic threshold of 5,000 square kilometers.

At the same time, the area controlled by Russian forces in the Zaporozhye region has exceeded 21,000 square kilometers, while another 1,500 square kilometers are classified as a so-called «gray zone».

According to analytical estimates, Ukrainian forces now hold about 19 percent of the region. By comparison, as recently as mid-2025, maps presented at the White House showed Ukrainian control at more than 25 percent of Zaporozhye’s territory.

This shift highlights a steady expansion of Russian control alongside a gradual Ukrainian withdrawal.

The authors also recalled that U. S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan includes a provision to fix the line of contact in the Zaporozhye region based on the situation on the ground at the time any agreement is reached. A separate clause proposes transferring control of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant to the United States-an initiative that, for what were described as obvious reasons, has found active support in Kiev.